Not so long ago. the main purpose of buying a car was to gel from one destination to the next efficiently and comfortably. Things have changed. Today’s vehicles are much more than just a mode of transportation. High-tech features once reserved for luxury vehicles are now commonplace in more standard cars. Newer models resemble branch offices and come complete with much of the same equipment needed to run a traditional office. Whether conducting business on a mobile phone, transferring information from your car’s computer to your office computer, or checking e-mail from a dashboard computer while stuck in traffic, driving has become high tech.
Sure, some drivers stick with the basics and limit their high-tech frills to automatic power doors and windows, but they’re fast becoming the minority. The busier we become, the more we depend on our vehicle’s high-tech features to get us through the day. Drivers aren’t always aware of how much they will use these features until faced with a situation where they come in handy. From that moment on, drivers become hooked on automobile technology. From safety and security to sheer luxury and convenience, technology has made today’s vehicles even more efficient and fun to drive. Here’s why.
Massaging lumbar seats soothe tired backs after long hours on the road, and comfortable ventilated seats send cool air over the body on a hot day. Smart cruise control systems keep your car a safe distance from the vehicle in from and will even automatically apply the brakes. Special reverse radar systems warn drivers that they are dangerously close to other vehicles or objects. Computerized communication and navigation systems allow vehicles to be continually tracked in case of accident or theft. Night Vision provides drivers with an extended view of the forward road beyond the headlamps, increasing driver confidence and safety at night And, for the first time, drivers can actually communicate with their vehicles. Some models take voice commands to control accessories such as the audio system, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road and off the instrument panel.
Several high-tech automobile features are currently in the development and testing stages and are expected to come on the market in the next few years. Ford is working on a concept that monitors driver alertness with a computerized system that detects when a driver’s ability has become impaired. The system sounds a warning alarm at the onset of drowsiness.
Several motor companies, including Ford and General Motors, are developing systems that allow drivers to check their e-mail while stuck in traffic. Eventually, vehicles will become a complete voice controlled home office environment with Internet connectivity fore-mail, news retrieval, and calendar scheduling functions all linked to a printer in the glove box. In the not so distant future, drivers can enjoy a hand-held personal digital assistant that can remotely “talk” to and synchronize home and office computers through their cars.
While extra luxury features such as these are appreciated and fun to use, high-tech safety features are what have truly grabbed buyers’ attention. An upcoming driver safely enhancement. Interactive Vehicle Dynamics, is a Ford concept that will automatically minimize loss of vehicle control due to loss of traction when the car takes a turn too quickly or encounters an icy patch. Other automobile manufacturers are developing similar systems that compare the driver’s intended direction from the steering wheel angle to the actual vehicle path. The system then applies braking at selected wheels and reduces engine torque. Another future concept, Lane-change Aid from Ford, will alert the driver if another vehicle is in the blind spot when changing lanes through detectors mounted on each side of the vehicle.
Existing high-tech safety features such as improved traction control systems, navigation systems thai automatically contact emergency services in the event of an accident, and accelerated performance engine capabilities have all contributed to a lower automobile accident rate, says Carl Sewell, chairman and chief executive officer of Sewell Automotive Companies. As the number of vehicle accidents decrease, word is quickly spreading that high-tech safety features have played a significant role.
’Technological features such as these are building safety,” Sewell says. “There is an increased awareness that these features exist, so we should be seeing more of them.”
The following is a sample of some of the high-tech features to look for in some of today’s most popular vehicles. Enjoy your drive.
*Features vary among models.
Cadillac DeVille
Night Vision allows the application of thermal-imaging technology to assist drivers at night, helping them see objects that are three to five times beyond the normal range of headlights and reducing the danger of oncoming headlight glare
StabiliTrack, a stability control system, makes handling even more predictable and consistent under all driving conditions and road surfaces
Massaging lumbar seats, adaptive seating, heated seats, and tri-zone climate control add to comfort and convenience
Global Positioning system satellite technology links the driver and vehicle with Cadillac’s OnStar Center. OnStar’s services include route support, remole door unlock, theft detection notification, stolen vehicle tracking, emergency services, restaurant recommendations and reservations, pinpointing the nearest ATM, and accident assistance, among others.
Automatic Volume Compensation digital processing continuously monitors overall sound level inside the car and adjusts it accordingly to the occupants’ preference.
When Cadillac introduces its concept car, Evoq, it will include Communiport, an in-dash multi-media communication and entertainment system with wireless com munications, computing functions, on board turn-by-turn navigation, and car audio with hands-free voice activation and text-to-text speech response. The system will listen to and respond to driver commands.
Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban
A built-in computer constantly monitors the operation of the vehicle’s major systems and communicates with the driver via a Driver Message Center to protect critical vehicle systems
Electronic Traction Assist incorporates a locking rear differential for more controlled acceleration and vehicle stability over slippery surface
Driver Lockout Prevention system makes it impossible to lock the vehicle with the engine off and keys in the ignition.
The OnStar navigation system aids in navigation and emergency roadside assis tance.
Ford
(Some of these features are emerging technologies.)
Smart Cruise Control allows a vehicle to automatically follow another vehicle at a set distance.
Electronic Messaging provides traffic information and other warnings to the driver through an interface in the vehicle. Encoded traffic information is continually transmitted to the vehicle’s FM radio, Drivers can be alerted about train crossings, icy bridges, high winds, deer crossings, or falling rocks.
The Global Positioning System allows drivers to access emergency personnel and assists with navigation
A Rear Seat Entertainment System allows passengers to play video games or watch movies on a retractable LCD monitor.
Satellite Radio offers 100 channels of CD-quality radio broadcasts, including commercial-free programming via satellite.
Voice Activation allows occupants to use voice commands to control a variety of vehicle systems and features
Sensors are used to relay critical information to determine the stage of airbag deployment in a crash, and adjusts ils inflation force accordingly
Lexus
A computerized Global Positioning Satellite navigation system’s touch-screen display provides turn-by-turn guidance by voice ana on-screen prompts. Lexus houses a map database for nearly 990 U.S. metropolitan areas and all major national highways.
If the driver hasn’t stepped hard enough on the brake pedal to activate the anti-lock brake system, Brake Assist supplements the applied braking pressure.
Vehicle Skid Control helps maintain traction under demanding conditions
The Customized Body Electronic System allows fine-tuning of functions to personal taste, including length of headlight turnoff delay, volume of remote entry beeper, ignition key warning chime frequency, and dome light fade-out time.
Lincoln LS
SecuriLock system defeats any attempt to start the engine without the correct coded ignition key.
Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit (RESCU) summons roadside emergency service and allows drivers to request travel information like route planning, points of interest, or directions. The system operates by means of an on-board electronic module, a cellular telephone, a global positioning satellite antenna, and Lincoln Security Center personnel.
A memory package retains position set tings for driver’s seat, steering wheel, and outside rear-view mirrors.
An optional Smart Sense package includes moisture-sensitive windshield wipers and a Home Link system with a universal garage door opener. A sensor mounted near the interior rear-view mirror detects moisture accumulation on the windshield and automatically activates slow or fast wiper motion.
Mercedes-Benz S Class
A smart airbag technology inflates the bags according to severity of collision.
The Intelligent Voice Control for the telephone and sound system volume level allows drivers to manage controls without diverting their attention from the road. It can even understand different accents and dialects
Comfort front seats provide active internal ventilation and a pulsating air chamber to relax the back discs and muscles
Night Design lighting gives the driver and occupants a clear sense of where things are at night
The smart cruise control system maintains a set distance from the vehicle in front through a radar system that calculates the distance between vehicles. Should the other car slow down, the system automatically eases up on the throttle and applies braking power if necessary
Tele Aid allows a driver to press an SOS button to immediately establish voice contact to a control center that dispatches local emergency services. The system also gives the precise location of the vehicle through the Global Position Satellite navigation system tracking. If a collision deploys any airbag, the system automatically establishes contact with emergency services. It can also connect with roadside assistance and a customer assistance center
A “keyless go” system allows a chipcard to unlock the door and start the ignition, rather than a key. Once the chipcard holder has been positively identified through a computerized system, a simple touch of the door handle suffices to unlock the door, and the ignition starts at the touch of a button
Audi A6 2.7T
The 5-speed HP-24 automatic transmis sion with Tiptronic and DSP selects from over 200 shift programs to match The quattro IV permanent all-wheel drive system includes a Torsen torque sens ing center differential.
The Premium Package includes memory for driver and passenger from seats, out side rearview mirrors. Xenon headlights, steering wheel controls for the radio, and auto-dimming mirrors inside and outside.
Porsche 996 Turbo
The all-wheel drive system allows all four wheels to spin, rather than only two, which provides more traction and control when cornering
Porsche Stability Management, or PSM, is a series of computer controlled sensors that can detect what the car is doing traction-wise and adjust the system accordingly by discreetly applying brake pressure to individual wheels
The vehicle features a 415 horsepower twin turbocharged engine and can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds
The optional Porsche Communication Management is an on-board computerized navigation system thai offers routes, directions, safety access, and more
Bi-Xenon headlights help reduce eye strain. A dynamic headlight leveling system automatically adjusts the beams of light reducing the blinding of oncoming vehicle.
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